Glenwood Canyon summer work starts Tuesday with 30-minute holds

Permanent rockfall mitigation in Glenwood Canyon following February’s slide begins Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. The work is classified as an emergency project and is expected to be complete by Sept. 1.

Two rockslides occurred Feb. 15, with the second one forcing CDOT to close Interstate 70 in both directions for almost a week, the longest closure of the road since it was completed in 1992.

“The work is very technical in nature and involves building four rockfall fences protecting two rockfall areas, one at the location of the rockfall and one just west of the February rockslide area,” said Mike Fowler, contract CDOT project engineer. “Not only is the work technical but it is also physically challenging due to the difficult site conditions.”

CDOT plans to limit periodic traffic holds and potential full closures to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Engineering work for the project will be done by Glenwood Springs firm SGM. The construction contractor is Yenter Companies of Grand Junction. Technical crews will work Monday through Friday and potentially some weekends.

The first traffic impacts will begin next week. Periodic delays of 30 to 45 minutes are expected from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, May 10 to 12, in both directions while a helicopter delivers materials for permanent rockfall fences.

Additional 30-minute holds in the westbound lanes are anticipated in July for helicopter operations.

Traffic closures will occur east of the Hanging Lake Tunnel for westbound traffic and near the Shoshone exit for eastbound traffic. Traffic will be stopped for 30 minutes and then allowed to proceed; 30-minute holds will occur intermittently.

Throughout the project, westbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane through the project area near mile marker 124.